Friday Book Talk: Coffee Shop Devos

Overwhelmed? Needing peace?

This year has challenged us like no other, leaving us dazed and confused. We’ve had to develop a new normal, make tough decisions and cope with heartrending grief. People have dealt with these changes in various ways, not all of them positive.

I’ve made the conscious decision to go to God during this strange season that becomes even stranger with each news cycle. Only He can give us the pure peace we crave.

For decades after awakening each day, I’ve delved into the Word of God for a few minutes. This quiet time has given me a firm foundation to start my day. Sometimes I read straight from the Bible. Other days, I use a book of devotions as my study guide. The past few months I’ve done a lot of both to keep from spilling my bucket of crazy.

I’m now halfway through Coffee Shop Devos, Daily Devotional Pick-Me-Ups for Teen Girls by Tessa Emily Hall. While it targets female young adults, inspiration seekers of all ages can benefit from its timely messages. The author has also written three young adult novels. Purple Moon is awesome.

I met the author two years ago at the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. I attended her workshop on writing for a teen audience (that’s her in the above photo) and spoke to her after the session. Trust me, she’s the real thing—grounded in God and walking her talk.

Created with a coffee shop theme, the book features ten overarching lessons categorized like a drink menu:  Latte (Comfort in Trials), Macchiato (Healing for Heartache), Americano (Everyday Issues), etc. Each of the 180 devotions is divided into thought-provoking sections. They begin with scripture, then move to her perspective on the verses based on her life experiences. For such a young author (first published at age 16), she’s faced a lot of trials, including a life-altering diagnosis of diabetes.

After her message, she prompts the reader with a question, such as “How are you pursuing your youth?” She offers a short prayer, then a dare, which might be to listen to a particular song or list ministry opportunities. This is followed by “A Shot of Inspiration,” oftentimes a scripture or a famous quote. And last, she invites readers to a social media discussion on a particular topic using #CoffeeShopDevos.

As a yummy bonus, she scatters coffee recipes throughout the devotions. The Nothing but Nutella Frappe is to die for, easy to make and perfect for cooling off on a hot summer afternoon. It takes me about 10-15 minutes each day to study the devotion, though other readers might want to spend more time on her dare.

Are you immersed in a devotional guide you’d recommend? If so, what is it? Why do you like it?

I’m thrilled to announce that Victoria Kimble’s latest middle-grade novel, The Main Dish, has launched. When 16-year-old Scarlet must sacrifice her dream to play in the orchestra so her sister can participate in a young gourmet contest, the drama boils over. Check out Tracy Popovich’s review.